Judge Mary Hotard Becnel, of the 40th Judicial District sentenced Jules Robertson, 22, of Reserve, and Calvin Mitchell, 24, of Maurepas, to life sentences without the benefit of probation or parole on Monday. They received an additional 25 years without the benefit of parole or probation for an attempted murder charge.

A St. John the Baptist Parish jury in February found the men guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Nakeisha Joseph and of the attempted second-degree murder of Ron James.

James and Joseph were sitting in James' vehicle in the 200 block of East 24th Street in Reserve in December 2008 when they were approached by Robertson and Mitchell. When the two men tried to rob them, James drove off. Authorities say Robertson and Mitchell opened fire on the car, hitting Joseph 12 times and killing her. James was shot once in the right leg.

Robertson was apprehended in February 2009. Mitchell,

Calvin Mitchell

who had been wanted on an arrest warrant, was booked with the shooting after being arrested in Atlanta in an unrelated incident in 2010.

Also on Monday, Gregory Bernard of Garyville was sentenced to 10 years at hard labor with the Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to stealing a lawn mower.

Bernard had a long list of past arrests, including three felony convictions, according to the St. John the Baptist Parish District Attorney's Office.